Herbal bath for winter

Herbal bath for winter

Winter is coming! This means our skin needs a little more tender loving care. Not just our skin but our whole well-being. You already know what is the most common way of taking care yourself, right? It is taking a bath. This post will list a few herbal bath recipes that could help you relax during the winter. But first what is herbal bath? An herbal bath is infused with essential oils and flowers that soothe the muscles, softens skin, improves circulation and combats any infection. In times past the herbal bath was held in great regard, and in many cultures the bath was so important that social institutions were built around it. Herbs used in these baths were chosen depending on the benefits derived from them. In Rome the bath waters were scented, but also disinfected, by tossing lavender into them. Catherine the Great had scouts traveling about in Europe and the Far East searching for herbs that would be beneficial skin tonics in her baths. Now that herbal bath is briefly discussed, here are a few herbs that can help you relax during a winter bath.

Calendula. Calendula flowers are said to be little miracle-workers. They have skin-soothing properties, they boost cell repair, lessen redness and moisturize the skin, making them an apt healer in the bath.
How to use: To create your own calendula bath soak, take half a cup of dried calendula flowers and dried rose petals. Add some Epsom salts to this as well as a few drops of lavender or ylang oil. Place this in a muslin bag and add this to your bath. It will leave the skin feeling cooler and nourished.

Rose. Love smelling fresh roses? Use the beautiful petals in your bath (ensure that it’s not sprayed with chemicals). The flower has a bunch of healing properties rose bushes have lots of healing properties and make luxurious baths. The flower goes back to ancient times and Cleopatra’s legendary bathing ritual included soaking in a bath with milk and rose petals. Roses nourish the skin, are cooling and also calm the system. Here’s a soothing rose soak to calm the mind and draw out the heat from the skin in the summer. How to use: Create a fragrant bath infusion using dried rose petals, chamomile flowers, green tea leaves and an essential oil. Add this to a muslin bag and place it in your bath. You can also add rose petals, lavender herbs and coconut milk to it. The indulgent bath keeps the skin soft and supple.

Eucalyptus. Eucalyptus loosens phlegm, soothes throats, and suppresses the cough often associated with the winter months. I’ve found the only thing better than rubbing a homemade (super-diluted) ointment on your chest is to bathe in the stuff. Just a fresh eucalyptus leaf or two creates a gentle detox bath for cold symptoms. This remarkable element, especially when combined with the power of good, old-fashioned steam inhalation. How to use: To attain its benefits in your bath, make a blend of it with other essential oils — tea tree, lemon essential oil and a coconut carrier oil. Shake and add a tablespoon of it to your bath water. It reduces stress and makes for a great pick-me-up.

Lavender. Good ol’ lavender packs a host of benefits. It can reduce nervousness and anxiety, its lower blood pressure, eliminate stress, help reduce skin infections, boost blood circulation and more. We suggest a lavender-rose bath soak with oats, which makes for a lovely indulgence.
How to use: To make it, blend oats till it turns into flour. Add some epsom salt, dried rose petals and dried lavender in a bowl. Add this to your bath directly or if you want to keep it less messy, add the mixture to a muslin bag and let that steep in the tub.

Chamomile. Gentle chamomile, with its fruity scent, is a soothing nerve relaxant. It is also perfect addition to an herbal bath. Its white flowers chamomile has bisabolol, an oil with sedative qualities. In the bath, the aromatic oils are released for a healing soak. It also enhances sleep.
How to use: To make a chamomile tea bath, brew chamomile tea and allow it too steep for 10 minutes so the plant oils are released. Add this to the bath.
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